The European Union (EU) urged Bulgaria, a new EU member, to speed up trials and mete out punishments to criminals, EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini said on Monday.

"Now courts have to speed up trials. We are waiting for sentences," Frattini told a press conference as he ended a four-day visit to the Balkan country.

The EU has warned Bulgaria, which joined the EU on Jan. 1, to fight organized crime and corruption or face sanctions from the 27-member bloc.

At a meeting with the Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov, Frattini praised the progress Bulgaria has made in shoring up law enforcement in the country.

Frattini said his staff will work with the Bulgarian authorities to avoid criticism in a March report, in which the European Commission, EU's executive body, will judge Sofia's progress in adopting the rule-of-law, one of the criteria it was required to meet for EU membership.

The Commission will decide on whether or not to impose sanctions on Bulgaria in early June.

Source: Xinhua